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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • PDP raises alarm over heavy security presence in Kwara

    Ahead of Saturday’s presidential election, the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has raised the alarm over heavy deployment of top security chiefs in Kwara State.

    Kwara is the home state of the President of the Senate and Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    A statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the deployment was part of a plot by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to intimidate, harass and create fear in the minds of voters and rig elections in the state.

    “As part of the plot, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) has deployed its Director of Operations, Etteng Bassey, as well as the State Directors in charge of Ogun and Anambra States to Kwara State ahead of Saturday’s elections while the Director in charge of Kwara State has been moved to Benue. This is in addition to the deployment of hundreds of other DSS operatives from Abuja to Kwara state.

    “We also have it on good authority that soldiers will from tomorrow cordon off all entry points to the personal house of the Senate President in Ilorin as well as his late father’s compound in Ilofa Road, old GRA, Ilorin.

    “Similarly, the police have made heavy deployment of officers and men from its headquarters in Abuja to Ilorin, Kwara state capital, where they have been instructed to arrest key political players loyal to Senator Saraki.

    Read Also: INEC working for PDP, says Oshiomhole

    “We alert Nigerians that the Federal Government plots to use the same strategy in key states of the federation to subvert the will of the people,” the statement said.

    The PDP said the heavy deployment was the reason behind APC’s boasts of winning the general elections, even as the main opposition party said all indications, including the opinion polls sponsored by them, showed otherwise.

    The PDP however said that such vicious plots by the APC and the Buhari Presidency will come to naught, adding that Nigerians are ready to confront all aggressions and vote them out at the general elections.

    The party charged all its members and supporters to remain resolute in resisting what it described as the machinations of the APC. It urged them to come out enmasse to vote and protect their votes with every legitimate means available to them.

  • Kwara APC hails Appeal Court judgment

    All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Field Operations Directorate (FOD) of the Presidential Campaign Council in Kwara state has hailed the Appeal Court judgement recognising the Hon Bashir Bolarinwa executives.

    By that judgement, the court also validated the authenticity of the nomination of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as the Kwara state APC governorship candidate.

    In a statement Deputy Coordinator, Field Operations of the directorate, Kayode Oyin-Zubair said, “the procured judgement couldn’t have stood further judicial tests. We knew from the onset that the whole process was orchestrated to weaken our support base and cause confusion amongst our supporters.

    “The authenticity of Bashir Bolarinwa executive was today affirmed by the appellate court. Earlier today an end was put to the shenanigans of Saraki and his cohorts here and there.

    “We have always held that they can only run, there is no hiding place for them. The judiciary has shown that it couldn’t be bought, though a lower court judge allowed himself to be manipulated for a price.

    “This is another serious low for Bukola Saraki in quick succession after he was shown a red card by the people of Kwara State during the presidential campaign in Ilorin.

    “We congratulate our party leaders, members and teeming supporters across the state for standing with us since the struggle started,” the statement stated.

    Oyin-Zubair therefore, enjoined all members of APC and its supporters in the state to come out enmass this Saturday to vote President Muhammadu Buhari and all APC candidates.

  • I am the author of restructuring – Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described himself as the author of restructuring, claiming that he will be Nigeria’s President from May 29 this year and that President Muhammadu Buhari must go.

    The former Vice-President spoke on Monday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, near Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, while campaigning, along with other leaders of PDP.

    President Buhari will also be at the same Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Tuesday, in continuation of his presidential campaigns.

    Atiku, who was accompanied by one of his wives, Jennifer, and other leaders of PDP, got to the stadium at 2:27 p.m., for campaign slated for 10 a.m., when many tired members of the party had left the venue, in view of stress, caused by the scorching sun, with one of the Masters of Ceremonies (MCs) continually announcing: “Close the back gate,” when the stadium almost became empty.

    When the vice-presidential candidate of PDP, Peter Obi, was asked to speak, he kept shouting in pidgin English: “Rivers people, make una wait now.”

    The rally was also attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was accompanied by his wife, Dame Patience; Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike; his counterpart of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; the Director-General of PDP’s Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Senate President; the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, an indigene of Andoni LGA of Rivers state; and Rivers Chairman of PDP, Chief Felix Obuah; among other leaders of the party.

    Atiku said: “Let me use this opportunity to pay tribute to a Nigerian who is patriotic, who is fearless, who is courageous, who is hardworking and who believes in this country. That Nigerian is Governor Wike. Wike and I have a few things in common. We no dey fear ooo. Do you want somebody we dey fear to lead you. It means if he is afraid, you will all be finished. I want to commend him (Wike) for the hard work he has done in Rivers State. I have been part and parcel of this state (Rivers) since 1984. I have not seen one single governor who has transformed this state to such a level that you can compare it with any modernised state.

    “I have been to many parts of this state (Rivers). The places where I used to go with boats, now I can do by road and cars, sitting comfortably. Wike did all this. He deserves a second term. He deserves to be re-elected. I know you are going to re-elect him. Wike, carry go.

    “If you elect PDP, which I am sure you are going to elect, and if you elect Atiku, you know that I am the author of restructuring. I will give it (restructuring) to Niger Delta and I will give it to all parts of this country. We must restructure.

    Read Also: APC has bastardised economy, says Atiku

    “It is the Obasanjo/Atiku administration that started the East-West Road. Till today, it is not finished. It is not finished, because you did not vote for PDP in 2015 to continue. APC came and halted it. If you vote for PDP again, we are going to finish it.

    “Your ports (sea) that do not work to create jobs, the Port Harcourt Port and Onne Port, we will complete them, so that we can create thousands of jobs for young men and women in Rivers State.

    “You can see that APC has not done anything for you. They have not done anything for Niger Delta. They have not done anything for Southsouth. Every development that you have got in Rivers State, Southsouth or Niger Delta is PDP. So, continue to vote for PDP. I beg you.

    “I want to assure you that I will protect the constitution (of Nigeria). You know sey nobody go court reach me in Nigeria, to protect our constitution. I will protect separation of powers. I will not interfere with the National Assembly, because I believe in checks and balances. I will not interfere with the judiciary, because it is part and parcel of our checks and balances. I will uphold the rule of law. I will not allow rule of law to be trampled by anybody.”

    The presidential candidate of PDP also alleged that his counterpart of APC was preaching violence, claiming that it was not the first time that President Buhari would do so, stressing that Nigerians wanted peace, development, prosperity and jobs, while not being ready to fight one another again, declaring that: “Buhari must go.”

    Jonathan stated that Atiku would be Nigeria’s president from May 29, 2019, describing Rivers state as totally PDP, claiming that Nigeria had not made progress since he left office on May 29, 2015, after his humiliating defeat by President Buhari, the first of its kind in Nigeria’s history, for a sitting president to lose election.

    Wike said: “We have darkness and light (in Nigeria). APC is darkness. PDP is light. Do you want to vote for darkness? It is a war between dictatorship and freedom. Do you want dictatorship? Dictatorship is APC. Freedom is PDP. Are you Atikulated?”

    Secondus described Atiku as the next president of Nigeria, alleging that APC was in disarray, with its leaders desperate and confused, making them to allegedly be running from pillar to post, while insisting that the presidential candidate of PDP would be a winner on February 16, with Buhari to have no choice, but to leave the presidential villa on May 29 this year and return to his Daura hometown.

    National chairman of PDP maintained that Atiku had capacity, energy, being innovative, would be able to work for 24 hours daily and would be fully in charge as the Commander-in-Chief, claiming that the party’s presidential candidate would be the next helmsman of Nigeria this year.

    Saraki urged Nigerians to come out en masse on Saturday and vote for Atiku and other candidates of PDP, in order to move the nation forward, while claiming that his party’s presidential candidate would change Nigeria and put an end to the current poverty.

    Obi claimed that the only person who could make Nigeria to work again would be Atiku.

    Rivers chairman of PDP assured that people of the state would give Atiku 100 per cent votes, while presenting 58 governorship candidates of other political parties in the state, who decided to adopt Wike, thereby withdrawing their candidacy to back the PDP’s governorship candidate in Rivers.

    While also speaking, the Presidential Campaign Coordinator in Rivers state, Senator Olaka Worgu, noted that for better life, Nigerians must massively vote for Atiku on Saturday, stressing that Nigerians deserved better than they were currently getting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of President Buhari.

    The rally was rounded off at 3:36 p.m.

     

  • ‘We welcome observers, but won’t accept interference in our electoral process’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that while it welcome foreign observers coming to monitor the 2019 general election, it will not accept any form of meddlesomeness, intimidation or interference by any foreign country in the electoral process in the guise of election monitoring.

    The party said those coming to observe the election should be aware that Nigeria was a sovereign state and not a colony of any nation and should therefore apply international best practices in carrying out their functions as election observers.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said in a statement in Abuja that the party was solidly behind the statement credited to the Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, adding that they were ready to defend the integrity of the nation.

    Onilu said “We stand fully by the statement as regards any country that thinks we are a colony; that we have a right to defend every inch of this country; and we are not a banana republic.

    “So what Governor El-Rufai said clearly is the position of this government that we are proud as Nigerians and we are ready to defend the integrity of this country and that any country that thinks in the name of election will want to interfere and dictate to us or intimidate us in any way, it is unacceptable. That is exactly what Governor El-Rufai has said. The PDP can twist it the way they want.

    “Governor El-Rufai never said people should not come and observe or monitor elections. And he was not referring to people who are genuinely coming to monitor and observe the elections. Nigerians also go to other countries as monitors and observers. So that is acceptable to us. We welcome peer review. What we don’t welcome and what is unacceptable to us is any country thinking we are a colony, we are not. We are a sovereign nation.”

    On the development within the party in Imo state, Onilu said the National Working Committee of the party was yet t9 take a decisi. On the disciplinary action taken against the Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha by the state chapter of the party.

    He said “We are aware of the situation in Imo and we have made our point clear. Let me reiterate that APC does not have an alliance with any party including the Action Alliance. We are not in alliance with any party whatsoever in this election.

    “However, we welcome support for our candidates from any party, but we do not have such an arrangement that accommodate the candidate of any other party besides APC candidates. In Imo and all the thirty-six states, including the FCT, we are campaigning for APC candidates and we expect APC candidates to win elections anywhere we are campaigning in a free and fair atmosphere.

    “We are also aware of the fact the Party’s local chapter has taken some disciplinary action as regards the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. In last few weeks, we have been going round the country to present our scorecard before Nigerians and to seek a renewal of this mandate to continue the good work that President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on.

    “The National Working Committee has not been able to seat on that and many other issues pending. In due course the NWC will meet and that may be one of the issues that will be considered.

    “As at today, the real issue in Imo is to emphasise the fact that APC is supporting all APC candidates in Imo and we do not recognise candidates that are not from the APC. We encourage the people of Imo to vote massively for APC candidates. The governorship candidate in Imo remains Senator Hope Uzodinma.”

    On the party’s preparedness for elections, he said “The APC has been working on a daily basis through our activities in terms of implementation of policy and programmes that touch on the common people. These are what we are now showcasing to the public as a means of telling them that the change we promised is actually taking place; seeking a renewal of the mandate they gave us almost four years ago

    “As we all can see, PDP missed the bus. They got to the bus station and instead of boarding the bus; PDP is busy picking on issues that do not concern them. All the time they ought to be campaigning, they wake up on daily basis based on their infamous Dubai strategy meeting that failed before they landed in the country

    “PDP showed abinitio that they were not coming into the elections to win it through the ballots. They put in place all sort of methods and illegal means they had wanted to deploy one after the other to get back to power through the backdoor. The PDP was busy creating false and fake news, spreading all sort of fallacies and that has now come to be their undoing.

    “It is clear that the elections in February 16, the election on March 2 are elections that the APC has demonstrated clearly that we are ready to win. The PDP has not offered any alternative to whatever APC is doing.

    “When you look at the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, he said on national television that one of his priorities is to make his friends rich but we are busy improving the lives of the common people. Nigerian will remember that. Atiku has said he is coming to sell national assets to his foreign and local friends.

    “The question we are going to ask during the election with our PVCs is what happened to all the national assets during the 16years of the PDP and especially when Atiku was vice president and chairman of the privatization council. National assets were sold for a pittance and they have all gone down.

    Read Also: FG invited our observers, EU replies El-Rufai

    “The only things that remain today are those that are personal to him. The gains he made from his position as vice president. This is the person that is contesting against our candidate. A person we just discovered paid heavily to get a 24-hours entrance into the US. That is the kind of person we want to have as president. Nigerians won’t do that.”

    He also frowned at the criticism that has trailed the redeployment of Commissioners of Police, saying “Few weeks ago, it was the same PDP that was crying that the police have been compromised and that the former Inspector General of Police was poised to deliver the election to APC. Now the president has taken the position by appointing a new IGP. Now I don’t know where the noise is coming from.

    “There is no need to deceive ourselves. The whole noise about the posting of commissioners of police is about Kwara state, Dr. Bukola Saraki who is scared stiff remembering all he had done  in the past when he had the control. What he normally used the police for, the way he used to manipulate INEC and he is thinking that the same thing may happen to him.

    “How could you suggest to the police not to carry out its routine exercise. If the police think it is part of its preparation to ensure a free and fair election, provide security before and after the election is to move its personnel around, how does that bother anybody?

    “It is because Bukola Saraki has realised without having control over INEC and the police, there is no way he can win his seat to comeback as a senator. He cannot even deliver his polling unit, without being aided by the police and INEC and that is what he has been doing before but is no longer available for him.

    “But let me assure him and his co travellers, the APC doesn’t need those illegal things to win elections. Infact, we need them to do their jobs, we need them to provide a level playing field to all political parties. That is all we want from the police, that is all we want from INEC. We don’t need the template Bukola Saraki and the PDP have been using and we are not going to use it.”

     

     

     

  • APC plans to attack Nigerians, PDP alleges

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has alleged plots by the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and its agents to load arms and ammunitions into vehicles painted in PDP colours and the names of some of its prominent chieftains.

    According the main opposition party, the plan is to use the illegal arms and ammunitions to attack gatherings and orchestrate violence across the country ahead of the general elections.

    In a statement Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said some of those marked for frame up in the planned attacks include its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Senator Dino Melaye among others.

    Citing “intelligence report” at its disposal, the opposition party said the governing APC will then clamp down on the targeted PDP chieftains and get them incarcerated.

    Condemning what it described as the heinous plot, the PDP said the plot was an act of desperation by the APC, as a result of despondency, arising from their rejection by Nigerians.

    Read Also; APC seeks postponement of Rivers gov election

    The statement reads: “We want all Nigerians to note that the PDP is a party of goodwill and our rallies have demonstrated that we are a people of peace.

    “Our objectives and goals, as laid down by our founding fathers, demonstrate unity, national cohesion and economic prosperity for our nation.

    “This is the path we have continued to toe in our campaigns, in spite of provocations by the APC and the Buhari Presidency.

    “The PDP is therefore, alerting Nigerians to take serious note of this plot by the APC, which is tailored to smear the image of our party and candidates, as well as divert public attention from their acts and threats of violence ahead of the 2019 general election”.

  • Alfa to Saraki: Obey court orders, inaugurate me as senator

    Four months to the end of the Eight Senate, Air vice Marshal Isaac Mohammed Alfa (rtd) Wednesday asked Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to inaugurate him as the Senator representing Kogi East in accordance with several court orders.

    Alfa accused Saraki of choosing and picking which court orders to obey and the ones to disobey depending on who is involved.

    The former Chief of Air Staff spoke in Abuja on the alleged refusal of Saraki to swear him as the Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District despite over six court rulings in his favour.

    He noted that the case between him and Senator Atai Aidoko over the rightful occupant of Kogi East Senate seat has gone through 31 different Judges who “are all aware of the Senate President’s deliberate refusal to swear me in.”

    He said it appears that Saraki was determined to keep Aidoko in the Senate in disobedience to express court directive.

    Alfa said that he was baffled about “Saraki’s serial disobedience of court orders even as he is the greatest beneficiary of court reliefs per his Code of Conduct assets declaration case.”

    He said, “I am convinced that this has become necessary to let the whole world know the embarrassing and selective obedience and disobedience of court orders in the National Assembly by the Senate President and the Clerk of the National Assembly.

    “The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki decides which court orders to obey and which to disobey depending on who is involved.

    “In my case in particular, the Federal High Court ordered on the 13th day of June, 2018 that I should be sworn in as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Kogi East Senatorial District.

    “This order of the Federal High Court was affirmed by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, yet the leadership of the National Assembly ignored the various orders of Court.

    “I have not been able to obtain from Dr Saraki the actual reason behind his determination to keep me out of the Senate at all cost, although people have advanced several reasons; from his determination to install his stooge as the next Governor of Kogi State with Senator Atai Aidoko as deputy, his hatred for Igala people of Kogi State for a perceived wrong they might have done to his father to his personal hatred for the ex-Military, with me as a very high symbol, not minding the fact that I am in the same party with him.

    “This case has gone through 31 different Judges who are all aware of the Senate President’s deliberate refusal to swear me in.

    Read Also: Saraki seeks immediate end to ASUU strike

    “The question that should bother every Nigerian is; If the Senate President still refuses to immediately swear me in and keeps Senator Aidoko in the Senate (as Senator Aidoko has boasted despite the Supreme Court judgement), what image is he projecting of the Senate to the whole world?

    “That the Senate refuses to obey the judgment of the apex court of the land?

    “Under such circumstance, does the Senate have any justification to fault the Executive?

    “The whole World wonders at Dr Saraki’s serial disobedience of court orders even as Dr Saraki is the greatest beneficiary of court reliefs per his Code of Conduct assets declaration case.

    “More worrisome is the fact that Dr Saraki is the Chief Law Enacting Officer of this Country. This is the same Dr Saraki who daily lambasts the Government’s high handedness, disobedience or selective obedience of court orders.

    “I am convinced that a person occupying such sensitive position as the Senate Presidency should not allow his personal circumstances to expose him to allegation of double standard and abuse of office,”

    Alfa continued “Out of the eight judgements in this case, I have won seven, including the last six, both at the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court with the only Court of Appeal judgment in favour of Senator Aidoko nullified by the same Court of Appeal.

    “All the judgments above were served on the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and Alhaji Sani Omolori, the Clerk of the National Assembly. Dr Saraki refused to obey the orders contained in the judgments in my favour.

    “Without any ambiguity, the situation as it stands today is very clear: Supreme Court ordered the Federal High Court to determine who is the Senator representing Kogi East.

    “High Court declared Air Marshal Alfa as the winner in the case and the rightful occupant of the Seat. (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1073/2014) Senator Aidoko appealed to the Court of Appeal against the judgment of the High Court.

    “Court of Appeal struck out Sen. Aidoko’s appeal and upheld the judgment of the High Court in favour of Senator Isaac Alfa, maintaining that the judgement of the High Court in favour of Air Marshal Alfa is subsisting and valid. (Appeal No.CA/A/610/201 dated 24th October 2018)”

    Alfa, who displayed the certificate of return as member of the Senate issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dated 21st June, 2018 wondered “what else Saraki wants to swear me in.”

  • Saraki seeks immediate end to ASUU strike

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to immediately end the strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    Saraki said that the ASUU industrial action is already entering its 62nd day.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki emphasised the need for Nigeria’s universities to be re-opened without further delay.

    It said that Saraki highlighted the fact that education of Nigeria’s young people is being negatively affected by the stance of the government and disenfranchising the youths, many of whom are registered to vote in their universities — but are now stuck in their homes.

    Olaniyonu quoted Saraki to have said: “In November 2016, the Senate intervened in the ASUU strike and met with the officials of the Ministries of Education and Labour, Employment and Productivity and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    “At that meeting, which was attended by the Minister of State for Education Anthony Anwuka and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity in the National Assembly, we agreed that the Federal Government should work to implement the agreement that it reached with ASUU in 2009, and subsequently, we set up a sub-committee to liaise with both ASUU and the Federal Government on this issue.

    “The Federal Government must immediately work to address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), because this issue goes beyond negotiations.

    “It is affecting the education of Nigeria’s students, and disenfranchising many of them from participating in the upcoming general elections.

    Read Also; Saraki, Ahmed crippled LGs in Kwara, not Buhari – APC

    “Make no mistake, we cannot continue this system whereby our universities will be frequently shut down, thereby slowing down the education of our young people — and creating negative bottlenecks that place unnecessary stress on our universities.

    “In another vein, our youth make up over 51 percent of registered voters. What does this mean for our electoral process, when young students who are registered to vote in their academic institutions, cannot do so because their schools are shut down? This is unacceptable.

    “In this regard, I call on the Federal Government to immediately work on meeting the demands of ASUU and honouring all its prior commitments.

    “On our part, the Senate will continue to work to ensure the education sector is strengthened — and we are ready and willing to collaborate with both the Federal Government and ASUU to end this strike, and ensure that it does not become a recurrent issue”

  • Onnoghen’s suspension: Senate APC caucus seeks to join suit

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate Caucus Monday applied to the Supreme Court to be joined in the suit filed by the Senate challenging the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The application of the APC Caucus to be joined in the suit is coming despite the withdrawal of the suit by the leadership of the upper chamber.

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had in a statement said that they decided to discontinue the case due to the intervention of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in the matter.

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in another statement, said that the APC caucus decided to join in the suit to challenge the inclusion of its members by the leadership.

    Read Also: Onnoghen’s suspensionnot signal to dictatorship – FG

    The statement reads: “The Senate caucus ‎of the All Progressives Congress (APC), consisting 56 senators, being the majority party in the Senate, today Monday, 4th February, 2019, applied to the Supreme Court, to join in the suit purportedly filed by the Senate, against the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as interested parties.

    “The APC senators rely on the Supreme Court (Additional ‎Original Jurisdiction) Act of 2002, which provides that the resolution of the respective chambers of the National Assembly is a prerequisite of filing such suit.

    “The caucus is therefore challenging the said suit and objects to the inclusion of its members.”

    It is not clear whether the Senate APC caucus application to be joined in the suit was made before the Senate withdrew the suit.

    It is also not clear if the caucus will insist on going ahead with the suit.

  • Waku was a fearless politician, says Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday expressed deep sadness over the demise of Senator Joseph Kennedy Waku.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the late Waku as a fearless and colourful politician who spent the most productive period of his life in the service of God, country and humanity.

    Saraki said: “Senator Waku was a democrat and social activist. He cared so much about his people. He spoke truth to power not minding political correctness. He worked assiduously for the upliftment of his state in particular and Nigeria in general.

    Read Also; Senator Waku dies in Chicago

    “His leadership role in the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), marked him out as a consummate politician with the welfare of his country at heart.

    “As a Senator, he contributed immensely to the nation’s legislative development. His incisive interventions bear testimony to his rich experience, intellectual depth and urbane personality.

    “He was a voice to the voiceless. We shall miss him dearly,” Saraki stated.

    The Senate President also commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased and the Government and people of Benue State over the sad and irreparable loss.

    He prayed to God to grant the soul of Senator Waku eternal peace and his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Atiku, Saraki, others assure Kaduna of peace and security

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; PDP chairman; Uche Secondus and the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki have assured the peoples of Kaduna State of peace and security if PDP is elected.

    Addressing a rally in Kaduna on Thursday, the party chieftains also promised to end hunger in the land by creating jobs for the youth population.

    Secondus urged the people not to vote for any other party other than the PDP in the coming elections, saying that the PDP has a track record of good governance and delivery of democracy dividends.

    The party chair described Atiku Abubakar as an experienced candidate who has been tested in both public and private sector.

    Secondus the present administration has lowered national values with its embarrassing outings and assured that Atiku will restore Nigeria and return its deserved status in the comity of nations.

    “Atiku will deliver on his promises, unlike President Buhari who has not been able to keep any of his promises because he is not in charge. He sleeps while cabals destroy the country”, Secondus said.

    Also speaking at the rally, Atiku assured the people that his Presidency would provide adequate security that will restore the list glory of Kaduna State.

    Read Also: Saraki, Marafa disagree over N2.4b daily fuel subsidy

    The PDP presidential candidate said that APC failed to fulfill any of the promises it made to the people in 2015 for lack of competence.

    Atiku charged the people to not only vote PDP in all the elections, but also be ready to defend their votes and stop the APC from “stealing them”.

    Saraki also urged the people to reject the APC at the elections because the party has failed to provide the much needed peace in Kaduna and the country.

    The former Vice President, Namadi Sambo who is from the state also addressed the crowd and assured them that a vote for PDP is vote for peace in the state and the country.

    Other PDP chieftains at the rally included former PDP national chairman, Dr Mohammed Haliru Bello; former governors of Kaduna and Niger states, Ahmad Makarfi and Dr Babangida Aliyu respectively.

    The party’s presidential campaign train is expected to leave Kaduna for Benue on Friday, after a national conference on security.